Rabbi Michael A. Robinson

ROBINSON, Rabbi Michael A. Reform Rabbi, with over 50 years of rabbinic service in 4 congregations, born 12-13-24, died July 20, 2006 at home surrounded by friends and family in Sebastopol, CA. Survived by his wife Ruth Hertzman Robinson, his daughters Jude Robinson and Sharon Robinson, his sister Leah Karpen, and grandchildren Zoe Crowhurst-Robinson, Alexis Blackmon, and Dylan Blackmon. A son, Joel Robinson, in 1981. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Robinson stood by the disenfranchised throughout his life, fighting for peace and social justice, risking criticism, physical discomfort and arrest. He was a well-known activist throughout Sonoma County and the United States. Robinson was a graduate of Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, and received a Doctorate from Union Theological Seminary in New York. He served as a rabbi for four different congregations, including 29 years at Temple Israel of Northern Westchester, New York. Robinson arrived in Sonoma County in 1989 with his wife, Ruth, and is credited with building Shomrei Torah's Reform congregation from fewer than 30 families to 175 families before his 1996 retirement. After serving in the South Pacific in World War II, he became a pacifist and a champion for the homeless, equal rights, the environment, and economic justice. He showed up wherever a voice was needed on behalf of people who couldn't effectively speak for themselves. The world has lost one of its greatest advocates for Peace. Funeral Service on Sunday, July 23 at 10:00 a.m. at the Friedman Center, 4676 Mayette Avenue, Santa Rosa. At Rabbi Michael's request, in lieu of flowers, please make contributions for a fund established in his memory to Congregation Shomrei Torah, 1717 Yulupa Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95405.